Abnormal US and torch test

Hi folks,

At my 19 week ultrasound everything seemed fine, we found out we were having a boy, he looked beautiful. A few days later I got a call from a midwife asking me to come in for a toxo and rubella blood test but as I had just the day before had my GTT, iron test and Vit D test, I was a bit annoyed that they couldn't have coordinated them to be done at the same time. I asked them to send out the form and was intending to go in this week or next.

Saturday afternoon I got a call from the hospital asking me if I'd had the test yet. I said no, whats the rush etc and the midwife got all cagey and said she'd ask the registrar to call me. A few hours later I got a call from the Doc saying that the blood test request was to find out more about a swelling found on my little boys brain during the ultrasound. I kind of went into shock as I seemed to have blanked out for a sec adn only realised he was talking abuot my baby after a few moments. He was saying that I should prepare for the worst . Anyway I went straight to the hospital for the blood test and am still waiting for the results.

I was wondering has anyone else had an abnormal scan that required a 'torch' blood test? I am freaking out

Thanks :)

No advice, but couldn't read and not give you some :hug: I hope everything is ok.

The doctor is an idiot!! Assuming you are public, if they have any concerns, they should have told you at the time of the scan or a day later. They should refer you to the Maternal Fetal medicine unit of your nearest tertiary hospital so you could be seen by specialist sonographers, neonatologists and genetic counsellors, if required.

I had the TORCH testing for DS2, but that was just to rule things out. He had severe ventriculomegaly at 20 weeks but it wasn't caused by infection.

I hope things are fine and you have lots of support. Meanwhile, just send bub lots of peaceful energy.

oh how scary for you. When do you get the results back? I wish they'd called you into the hospital to talk to you in the first instance, rather than the smoke and mirrors re: getting another blood test.

I know it's easy for me to say this, b/c I'm not in your shoes, but don't give up hope on your little man. I remember reading an article in The Age Good Weekend this year about a little baby who had something seriously wrong with his lungs. The parents had the option to terminate and decided against it. They were told to prepare for the worst and so just waited and waited and then towards the end of a miraculous pregnancy, the scans showed normal lung tissue developing. He was born alive and well. I couldn't stop crying when I read the story. I also remember all of the love and prayers we send to Glenny C's little boy Charlie when we was undergoing heart surgery this year and he is just looking like such a perfectly normal bubby now. I will be sending you lots of love and strength and I'll ask my May 2012 group of mums to pop in here too.

Massive hugs to you during such a stressful time

:hugs: That's horrible. I agree, if there was something worrying on the scan a doctor should have discussed it with you soon after the scan and preferably in person. They should not have got a nurse to ring you about an extra blood test and not explain why.

I hope everything is ok for you and bub.

*massive hugs* I hope everything is ok. thinking about you and bub

I don't have any advice but I do know you should have been told at the ultrasound about the swelling. With our first bub at our 19 week scan it was discovered he had a cleft lip and this was told to us by a doctor who checked the findings then we were told what was going to happen from there on in. I would be focusing on good thoughts and vibes to your little man for now and then making a formal complaint to the hospital!
Thinking of you and keep us posted xx

Hugs Hun. I truly hope everything is ok and agree with the others that the way the hospital handled this was horrible.

No advice except to try and stay calm and stay away from Dr Google!! Will be crossing everything that the tests show everything with your little man is totally normal. Take care

Hugs to you hun, how utterley horrible the handling of this has been. Thinking of u

Hugs I hope everything is ok x

Hugs to you. I really hope everything is ok

I hope everything is ok, Praying for you and your little boy xxx

Hope your bub is OK. I see you're in the Mallee, are you going to Horsham?

Hello everyone, thanks so very much for allt he kind words. You've all really made me feel heaps better.

Charlotte91 - I seem to have forgotten to change my profile.... I used to live in the mallee in SA but am now in Perth :)
LionsandBears - I had to google ventriculomegaly but I think that might be what my little one has. And yes, I am in the public system.

Hopefully I get more results and some direction from the hospital tomorrow. If I don't then maybe I'll just get a bit hard ass on them :)

Hugs. I hope everything is good news tomorrow.

BD - there is a huge range in severity with ventriculomegaly, some of which can resolve themselves. We did an enormous amount of research and were referred to the MFM at RWH. If it is that, then ask what the original measurements of the ventricles were and what they are now. I am happy to discuss with you via PM if that helps. We did find that there is a huge variation in possible issues with the brain. Some end up being not very serious or resolve themselves. Some are incredibly serious. Try not to stress about possibilities until you have more information.

Thanks LionsandBears, If it does turn out to be this then I will definitely PM you. I just have to wait and see what today brings first.

Good luck today. xx

Thinking of you and hoping you got some reassuring answers today xx

I finally saw the OB at my local and she said thaty baby has a mild ventriculomegaly (10.8mm) on one side of his brain and there could be any number of causes of that. They have referred me to the fetal medicine unit at King Edwards and for genetic counselling also. I should be able to see them by early next week which is good.

This OB was definitely far less concerned than the doc I spoke to on Saturday, but I also got the impression that she was not experienced in this type of problem, hence the referral to a specialised unit. I guess we'll know more after seeing the FMU after getting some more screening done. I'll definitely be getting another ultrassound and very likely an amnio too to look for chromosomal abnormalities. For now, I just have to try and relax and try not to stress too much, hard as that will be.

Cheers BD

:hug:we were referred to a fetal medicine unit last week following our scan, so I know how awful the waiting game is. One thing i can recommend is to stay away from google. I hope you get some more answers next week and pray that your LO one is ok.

Thanks for all the love folks. I finally had the specialist US at the FMU and his ventricule measues just under 8mm. Well and truly perfectly average!!!! Its taken days to sink in that everthing is going to be fine. The FMU thought that it is likely that the earlier scan I had was simply incorrect, that they measured it wrong. Can't believe I went through a month of hell because someone may have made a little error!! Oh well, I am just really thrilled now and am back on track organising baby stuff.

Thanks :)

How fantastic now you can relax and enjoy your pregnancy! Boo to the stuff up and making you worry though!

that's so great to hear!

Awesome news! What a huge relief :)

fantastic news!!!! :)